Resources

Feasibility studies help organizations to: test assumptions, analyze potential challenges and opportunities, evaluate risks and benefits, support data-driven decision making, and compare interest in various products before investing in development. Review our helpful...

Accreditation is a complex process, but you can fast track your program’s accreditation and increase the likelihood of success by following the steps outlined in this resource.

The development and maintenance of a certification program requires a commitment to evaluation and ongoing quality improvement. In 2013, the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education® (AFCPE®) began decisive steps to improve the Accredited Financial...

Today’s workforce requires varied options to demonstrate expertise and attainment of job-related skills. Gone are the days of the “one certification program fits all” solution. Instead, organizations should consider a broader approach to building a diverse product...

Practical Advice for Virtual Exam Development Meetings Adopting a virtual approach to exam development proved necessary in 2020 but it can also reduce costs by eliminating travel expenses and potentially expanding the pool of subject matter experts (SMEs) who...

The National Board for the Certification and Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) engaged SeaCrest to conduct a survey to gather information about how certifying organizations in the United States responded to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during...

Albeit organizations of all sizes offer certification programs oftentimes this endeavor is more challenging for those with small programs. While there are differing definitions of a small program, research has illustrated commonalities such as: a small number of...

Few people would buy a car without knowing the price, purchase a home without an inspection, or accept a new job without salary information. So why start a new certification or certificate program without understanding the market? Most successful decisions depend on...

Internal audits are a key, often required, component of a quality management system. They provide an objective mechanism to ensure your program policies and procedures are performed consistently and correctly. If the program is accredited, the audit may also check...

The Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP), a membership association of more than 6,000 child life specialists, was considering the development of a new, advanced-level credential to complement its existing “flagship” program. Based on feedback obtained...

An up-to-date policy manual is an essential document for any certification program. It provides a clear framework for ensuring consistency, promotes efficiency, provides direction to staff members, and informs operational procedures, candidate handbooks, and other...

COVID-19 has changed the testing landscape resulting in the widespread closure of “brick and mortar” testing centers. In response, accrediting bodies for professional certification programs, including the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) and the ANSI...

The implementation and documentation of exam development activities plays an essential part in the accreditation process. A strong partnership between the certifying organization and its psychometric vendor, or consultant, helps create a realistic exam development and...

SeaCrest has prepared more than 325 successful accreditation applications. Based on our experience, we have summarized the seven most common challenges organizations face in preparing a successful application. Paying attention to these challenges prior to preparing an...

When faced with an opportunity to introduce a new credential or overhaul an existing one, how does your leadership approach the decision-making process? Questions often emerge throughout the multi-layered process. Is there a real need? How does the need vary across...